Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-07-31
DAILY HERALD.
THE POLICE LECTURED.
Mayor workman Announces the
Com issiOners COncIusfOns.

For the past three days or eve
since the report of the Grand Jur
was filed, the members of the Polio
Commission have been seriously con
sidering what ought to be done in TIN
premises for the credit of the depart
ment i'm their charge. That thes,
deliberations have had in view som,
extensive changes is plainly fore
shadowed by the address of Mayo
Workman to the Police Force las
night; but, as yet, it can only be sur
missed what those changes will be, fol
the reason that the meetings of tn,
Commission have been held with
closed doors. In anticipation of the
remarks which follow, all the mem
bers of the force had been notified te
be present at the change of watch, S
o'clock last night, and at that time all
but three assembled at the police
station, and were addressed as follows
by Mayor Workman:
To the Members of the Police Force:
AS President of the Board of Police
Commissioners, the Commission has
delegated to me the unpleasant duty
of appearing before you this evening
and informing you that the Board is
not satisfied with the efficiency of a
portion OF the present force.
The Board is aware that some of you
are trying to do yaur duty. To all
such my remarks will not be apple
able. Those of you who are derelict
in your duties will undoubtedly feel
offended, as l expect to speak to you
plainly and frankly. 1t should be the
pride and ambition of each and every
one of you to give the people of this
city good government, and as sworn
officers, you must be faithful in attain
ing this end.
The Board of Police Commissioners
is seriously considering the dismissal
of fully one-third of the present force
for inefficiency, incompetency, or ar
rogance; therefore, gentlemen, with
out any intention of making threats, |
tell you frankly that unless better SER
vice is secured in the future than has
been rendered in the past, some of the
new as well as old officers will be
dismissed. In this connection |
cannot refrain from calling your
attention to the numerous burglaries
committed and incendiary fires occur
ring, which are not followed by a
single arrest and apparently not much
effort has been made to secure the Of
tenders. The Board of Police Com
missioners is of the opinion that if
1s much zeal and vigilance were used
in the detection of the numerous burg
lars and incendiaries as is displayed
in arresting petty offenders, there
would be more malicious persons in
prison charged with graver offenses.
will cite the following case as an ex-
ample. More attention has been de-
voted to the continual arrest of little
Greek named Marros, who keeps a
fruit stand around the corner on
Spring street than all the burglaries
and crimes of arson that have been
. been committed. This poor fellow
trying to earn an honest living for a
few months during the fruit season,
has been bounded and harassed al
most to death simply because he un-
loltuudtSiy happCiiCu W NC WitiilH
sight of the police station. The brief
authority with which you are invested
should not make you arrogant. Every
citizen, be he rich or poor, is entitled
to common civility, and any officer
who does not recognize this fact shall
be punished.
The inefficiency of this force has
been commented upon in the report of
the late Grand Jury, and l feel it my
duty as Mayor of this city to s,e
that this department of the city govern
ment is properly conducted, and it is
your duty to assist me in detecting and
furnishing crime. This state of affairs
must not exist. More attention should
be paid to the arrest of criminals.
Each one of you should, whether on
your beats or not, feel it your duty to
detect crime. No favoritism shall be
shown. All jealousies and pickering
stopped, more efficiency, zeal and
vigilance must be displayed, and in
competency or arrogance will not be
tolerated.
Again inform you that the Board
of Police Commissioners are fully de-
termined that if no improvement is
made in the service within the next
30 DAYS, q number of the force will be
dismissed without any investigation
for inefiiciency, incompentency or ar
rogance. And l trust by your future
action you will not compel us to do so.
Gentlemen, in saying these things to
you, have been actuated by desire
to secure for this city an efficient police
service. Most of you know what has
been said of the department and these
savings are true and it is the desire OF
the commissioners that there shall be a
change. If you will do your duty, l
will stand by you, but instead of ar
resting petty offenders and giving
them all your attention, try and fill
the prison with some of the burglars
and those guilty of arson. Some OF
you think you are doing your duty if
you walk around your beat and back
again, but something more is required
and we must have more efficient SER
vice. That is all have to say this
evening gentlemen.
These remarks created quite an i'm
preston among those who listened to
called and sent out, those
remaining them and after night
watch had been discussed the
situation from different stand
points. There were numerous
rumors of dismissals and designations
but all these failed to materialize and
the conclusion was reached that no
action had as yet been taken although
various names were under considera-
ton for dismissal. The next|80 days
will be an anxious period for those
who have disire to hold their posi-
tions and it remains to be seen
whether any Improvement VIII oe
made. 1t is pretty well understood
that officer Haskins has handed IN ms
resignation.
The New Depot OF the southern